String choices: nylon vs. steel

Posted by Lane Martin on November 22, 2016 at 11:11am

I'm in the early stages of building a solid body electric uke. It's in the style of a Stratocaster. I'm debating whether to go with steel strings and put in a mag pup or use nylon strings with a piezo rod pup in the saddle. Just wondering about the sound differences.

Obviously, the mag pup will give it more of a Strat look, but I could easily fake the look also.

Your thoughts?

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Replies

  • gary sheldon December 3, 2016 at 5:28pm

    Steel strings will put more tension on the neck joint.  Assuming you are not doing neck thru.  Either way should be nice.

  • Fomhorach November 22, 2016 at 8:48pm

    If the instrument is intended for teaching, it makes no difference, the player will learn it as either.

    If it's going to a steel string player guitarist, choose those.

    Build it with player intention.

    • Lane Martin > Fomhorach November 22, 2016 at 9:24pm
      I'm just building it for me at the moment. Might sell it if someone is interested.
  • Scott aka Farmer Ted November 22, 2016 at 2:17pm

    Short scale instruments with steel strings often need higher gauge strings to enable tuning, and to reduce string tension, which makes it more playable too.

    An alternative scale length that works great for ukulele tuning is tenor guitar. Scale length ranges from 19.5" up to where I like to build, 23".

    306593485?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024This electric tenor is 23" scale, tuned DGBE (can be DGBd) with the middle four strings from a set of D'Darrio's, (.017, .026, .036, .042).

    Or change strings for other uke tunings.

  • Will King November 22, 2016 at 12:17pm

    306594562?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024I built a steel string tenor uke with a mag pickup a few years ago and have changed the strings several times, trying to get the same 'tight string' sound of a nylon string uke.  The sound is good, but is a little harder on the ears, than the nylon strings.  My current string sizes for the 17 inch scale length are G=12, C=17, E=14, & A=10.  You have to have sharp angles on the strings at the nut and bridge so that they don't move around and buzz.  I also use a steel threaded bolt for the bridge.  I don't play any amped uke in public, because I am not a very good player.

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